POLICE are hunting for a tattooed man accused of conning business owners – including an osteopath – with fake £50 notes.
David Ayres, of Sanderstead Osteopaths, has sent the Advertiser CCTV images of the suspect, who Mr Ayres claimed has also targeted shops in West Wickham.
On November 12 the osteopath was given the counterfeit money as payment.
Mr Ayres explained: "I had a knock at the door from a man requesting some treatment.
"He was very pleasant and friendly, which is why at the end of the treatment when he gave me the £50 note, I didn't trust my instinct that it was fake.
"I decided to let him leave as he was so nice, but when I went back to check the note it was an obvious fake. He might as well have given me monopoly money. I popped over to the shop next door who had a UV light and confirmed it wasn't real.
"I went to catch up with him but he had gone. I tried calling him on his mobile but it was a wrong number and the address he gave me was non-existent. I then spoke to a few people in West Wickham and was told six businesses had been targeted there too, with the same serial number.
"I want to warn people about him, £50 is a lot of money to be cheated out of. I suppose it's a lesson to learn about following your instincts, however nice someone is."
The suspect is white, in his mid 30s, approximately 5'10", bald, very well dressed and well spoken. He has a large scar on the back of his left hand and a tattoo of a large Celtic cross on the left side of his chest with the words "Love forever...Harry".
Police are appealing for anyone who recognises the man to call 101.
